Low turnout in Meath by-election to choose new TD

The country's newest TD will be elected later as counting in the Meath East by-election gets underway at 9am.

It is to fill the seat of the late Shane McEntee, with his daughter Helen favourite to win.

When polls closed at 9pm last night, turnout was estimated to be low with somewhere between a third and two fifths of those entitled to vote having done so.

The snap by-election was low key, having attracted little attention as the result will have no bearing on the numbers in the Dáil.

Eleven candidates went forward but it is likely today will be a two-horse race between Helen McEntee of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil's Thomas Byrne.

Transfers will be key, and Sinn Féin's decision to call on voters not to transfer to government or opposition candidates could have a massive bearing on the eventual outcome.

Labour topped the poll there in the 2011 general election and the party's performance there today is likely to mirror the recent slide in national opinion polls.

Ballot boxes will be opened at 9am and a first count is expected at lunchtime, with a result in the afternoon.